Inbox: Activist or FBI Snitch?

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I went to school with Vahid Brown at Reed College. This piece is spot-on and I’m glad it was written [“Whack-a-Mole,” WW,
Oct. 23, 2013]. Working with the FBI is not a “red flag,” it’s a way to
potentially get some of the xenophobia, ignorance and just downright
stupidity and misinformation out of government policy.

If the FBI is
teaching its agents that all Muslims are terrorists, I want Vahid there
to correct that and teach them that they’re not. I understand the desire
for ideological purity, but there are real people who are going to be
on the receiving end of FBI actions, and I want them to be understood as
human beings, not as caricatures or stereotypes.

There is a need for
the work Vahid is doing, both in his activist work and in what he did as
an FBI trainer (and I would argue those can be seen as working toward
one and the same cause).

—“M W”

This article deals with a complex situation, and while
doing a decent job, fails at the end in presenting factual information
with regard to its representation of Portland Rising Tide’s involvement
and position [see correction below].

As is stated about
Vahid Brown in the article—“We’re not putting him on trial here.”
Portland Rising Tide does not wish to work with Brown, given his past
associations with the FBI.

We are not making
accusations about his current situation, which we have no information
about. We are only stating that these past associations are enough to
make it not appropriate for him to work with our group, which is
actively targeted by the FBI.

The Water Bureau spent a fraction of its project budget on
improving the park center, building sustainable quarters for the park
overseer, and improving the trail system. My water money was well spent.

—“Hannah Keziah Mills”

MULTNOMAH WHISKEY LIBRARY

This place is a joke and the review was spot-on [“Bar Spotlight,” WW,
Oct. 23, 2013]. I went inside on opening weekend, but they were “full
for the night” at 6:30 pm. It was empty at the time. I went back to my
’hood and was treated like my business was appreciated.

—“Tasty Nuggets”

CORRECTION

Our Oct. 23 cover story, “Whack-a-Mole,” inaccurately
attributed an Oct. 4 email sent to Vahid Brown questioning his work
training FBI agents as coming from the activist group Portland Rising
Tide. The email came from an activist who has worked with Rising Tide
but is not a member of the group. WW regrets the error.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR must include the author’s street address and phone number for verification. Letters must be 250 or fewer words. Submit to: 2220 NW Quimby St., Portland, OR 97210. Fax: (503) 243-1115. Email: mzusman@wweek.com.